Mission and Purpose

When the General Service Office Archives formally opened its doors in November 1975, its goal was to provide an environment dedicated to exploring A.A.’s history, serving members of the A.A. Fellowship and the general public. The G.S.O. Archives continues to pursue this goal and commits itself to serving individuals with an interest in discovering A.A.’s roots and growth around the world.

Mission
The mission of the Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office Archives is to document permanently the work of Alcoholics Anonymous, to make the history of the organization accessible to A.A. members and other researchers, and to provide a context for understanding A.A.'s progression, principles and traditions.

Receive, classify, and index all relevant material, such as administrative files and records, correspondence, and literary works and artifacts considered to have historical importance to Alcoholics Anonymous;

Hold and preserve such material;

Provide access to these materials, as determined by the archivist in consultation with the trustees’ Archives Committee, to members of Alcoholics Anonymous and to others who may have a valid need to review such material, contingent upon a commitment to preserve the anonymity of our members;

Serve as a resource and laboratory to stimulate and nourish learning;

Provide information services to assist the operations of Alcoholics Anonymous;

Promote knowledge and understanding of the origins, goals and programs of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Adopted: October 30, 2006
By the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous